The invention includes a method of bonding a perfluoroelastomer material to first surface that includes: (a) contacting a first surface with a bonding agent comprising a curable perfluoropolymer and a curing agent; (b) curing the bonding agent to form a perfluoroelastomer material that is bonded to the first surface. In the practice of such method, the bonding agent may be a solution prepared by dissolving the curable perfluoroelastomer and the curing agent in a solvent. In an embodiment of the invention, the perfluoroelastomer material formed in step (b) is a coating layer or, alternatively, the first surface is a surface of a perfluoroelastomer member and the perfluoroelastomer material formed is a perfluoroelastomer weld.

The invention includes a method of bonding a perfluoroelastomer material to first surface that includes: (a) contacting a first surface with a bonding agent comprising a curable perfluoropolymer and a curing agent; (b) curing the bonding agent to form a perfluoroelastomer material that is bonded to the first surface. In the practice of such method, the bonding agent may be a solution prepared by dissolving the curable perfluoroelastomer and the curing agent in a solvent. In an embodiment of the invention, the perfluoroelastomer material formed in step (b) is a coating layer or, alternatively, the first surface is a surface of a perfluoroelastomer member and the perfluoroelastomer material formed is a perfluoroelastomer weld.

The present invention is directed to partially fluorinated copolymers and the production thereof. More specifically, the copolymers, which are preferably produced by a solution polymerization process, preferably have at least three units, the first unit selected from 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene and 1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene, the second unit having a polymerized monomer selected from the vinyl esters and vinyl ethers, and the third unit having a polymerized monomer derived from a hydroxyl group-containing vinyl ether. The resulting copolymer is environmentally friendly, has favorable molecular weight characteristics, and may be shipped economically in high concentration.

The present invention is directed to partially fluorinated copolymers and the production thereof. More specifically, the copolymers, which are preferably produced by a solution polymerization process, preferably have at least three units, the first unit selected from 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene and 1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene, the second unit having a polymerized monomer selected from the vinyl esters and vinyl ethers, and the third unit having a polymerized monomer derived from a hydroxyl group-containing vinyl ether. The resulting copolymer is environmentally friendly, has favorable molecular weight characteristics, and may be shipped economically in high concentration.

The present invention relates to a method of producing a polymer including: polymerizing a compound represented by the following formula (3); or copolymerizing the compound represented by the following formula (3) with a compound (6) having a reactive carbon-carbon double bond and differing from the compound represented by the following formula (3), in a presence of at least one compound selected from the group consisting of compounds represented by the following formula (1) and compounds represented by the following formula (2).

A method for producing a fluoropolymer which includes polymerizing a fluoromonomer in an aqueous medium in the presence of a surfactant to provide a fluoropolymer, the surfactant being represented by the general formula (1): CR.sup.1R.sup.2R.sup.4CR.sup.3R.sup.5X-A, wherein R.sup.1 to R.sup.5 are each H or a monovalent substituent, with the proviso that at least one of R.sup.1 and R.sup.3 represents a group represented by the general formula: YR.sup.6 and at least one of R.sup.2 and R.sup.5 represents a group represented by the general formula: X-A or a group represented by the general formula: YR.sup.6; and A is the same or different at each occurrence and is COOM, SO.sub.3M, or OSO.sub.3M. Also disclosed is a surfactant for polymerization represented by the general formula (1), a method for producing a fluoropolymer using the surfactant and a composition including a fluoropolymer and the surfactant.

A method for producing a fluoropolymer which includes polymerizing a fluoromonomer in an aqueous medium in the presence of a surfactant to provide a fluoropolymer, the surfactant being represented by the general formula (1): CR.sup.1R.sup.2R.sup.4CR.sup.3R.sup.5X-A, wherein R.sup.1 to R.sup.5 are each H or a monovalent substituent, with the proviso that at least one of R.sup.1 and R.sup.3 represents a group represented by the general formula: YR.sup.6 and at least one of R.sup.2 and R.sup.5 represents a group represented by the general formula: X-A or a group represented by the general formula: YR.sup.6; and A is the same or different at each occurrence and is COOM, SO.sub.3M, or OSO.sub.3M. Also disclosed is a surfactant for polymerization represented by the general formula (1), a method for producing a fluoropolymer using the surfactant and a composition including a fluoropolymer and the surfactant.

To provide a fluorinated polymer which can be heat-cured at low temperature (from room temperature to 150 C.). A fluorinated polymer containing units represented by the following formula (1): ##STR00001##
wherein X.sup.1 and X.sup.2 are each independently a hydrogen atom or a fluorine atom, Q.sup.1 is a single bond or an etheric oxygen atom, R.sup.f1 is a fluoroalkylene group or a fluoroalkylene group having at least 2 carbon atoms and having an etheric oxygen atom between carbon atoms, Z.sup.1 is NR.sup.1Y.sup.1, OY.sup.2 or SY.sup.3, R.sup.1 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an aryl group, and Y.sup.1, Y.sup.2 and Y.sup.3 are each independently a group having at least one hydrolyzable silyl group.

To provide a fluorinated polymer which can be heat-cured at low temperature (from room temperature to 150 C.). A fluorinated polymer containing units represented by the following formula (1): ##STR00001##
wherein X.sup.1 and X.sup.2 are each independently a hydrogen atom or a fluorine atom, Q.sup.1 is a single bond or an etheric oxygen atom, R.sup.f1 is a fluoroalkylene group or a fluoroalkylene group having at least 2 carbon atoms and having an etheric oxygen atom between carbon atoms, Z.sup.1 is NR.sup.1Y.sup.1, OY.sup.2 or SY.sup.3, R.sup.1 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an aryl group, and Y.sup.1, Y.sup.2 and Y.sup.3 are each independently a group having at least one hydrolyzable silyl group.

A curable composition capable of being cured at a low temperature of from room temperature to 150 C. is provided. The curable composition comprises a fluorinated polymer containing at least three functional groups represented by the following formula (F) and at least one curing agent selected from the group consisting of an isocyanate-type curing agent, a blocked isocyanate-type curing agent and an amino resin-type curing agent:
R.sup.f1COZ.sup.1(F)
(in the formula (1), R.sup.f1 is a fluoroalkylene group, or a fluoroalkylene group with at least two carbon atoms having an etheric oxygen atom between carbon-carbon atoms, Z.sup.1 is NR.sup.1NR.sup.2H or NR.sup.3OR.sup.4, and R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are each independently a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group.)